Climate and health: It’s closer to home than you think

By Tom Hunt, Associate Director at Purpose Union

As we approach COP28 next week, Purpose Union is delving into issues that intersect the climate discussion. In this second piece by Tom Hunt, he explores the link between climate and health. By contemplating these insights we can gain a fuller understanding of how these systems function.

My birthday this year was unique. Not because I hit any particular milestone, but because for the first time ever the unusually warm autumn weather meant I could celebrate outdoors – without a coat! 

Not wanting to sour the celebrations, I still couldn’t get it out of the back of my mind that the UK should not be that warm in mid-October. And at the world’s current trajectory of warming, it is unlikely that this will be the last time.

A global health threat

The climate crisis is going to have a significant impact on public health. In September, The World Health Organization said the climate crisis is simultaneously driving a global health crisis. The impact on the developing world is stark. Countries with poor healthcare systems are struggling to keep up with the intensity and frequency of natural disasters. The warmer climate has created a breeding ground for infectious diseases. This impacts the growth of those countries, and subsequently their ability to build climate-resilience.

Similar fears are being echoed closer to home. The UK Health Security Agency recently warned that increasingly long and hot summers – like we had this year – are increasing the risk of disease-carrying mosquitoes becoming established in Britain. Twenty EU members recently asked the Union to prepare for climate change health hazards for the same reason.

All this shows that the climate crisis is also a truly global health crisis. This is something that should be acknowledged by businesses and governments alike.

The importance of health at COP28

The intersectionality between health and climate is starting to be recognised on the global stage. For the first time ever, health has a dedicated day for discussion at the UN’s Conference of the Parties (COP). COP28 will convene actors including ministers, climate and health professions, businesses and youth representatives to discuss the climate-health agenda. 

This is an important moment. Time and space will be given to discuss the current health challenges that much of the world faces as a result of global warming. It will provide opportunities for experts in both climate and health to discuss solutions to prevent and mitigate the public health impact of the warming planet.

In the aftermath of the climate talks, both business and government must go further. One of COP’s strengths is its ability to raise awareness of these issues and provide recommendations on the solutions. But the responsibility to take action ultimately lies with governments and the private sector.

Businesses and governments must take action

Governments must consider the impact of climate-related risks to public health in their policy planning. Many countries were not prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic; we cannot risk making the same mistake again.

Businesses must assess whether health has been integrated into their climate transition plans. This could be around the impact of business operations on both public health and the natural world; the wellbeing of employees living in areas prone to natural disasters and disease; and also the mental health of employees – with eco-anxiety on the rise.

Developing a strong narrative about the intersectionality of health and climate is crucial to getting this right. It will help bring all key stakeholders on board with the reasons for health to be an important action area of their climate strategies – even if they work outside the healthcare sector.

Crucially, that messaging must include positivity. It’s easy to get bogged down in the doom and gloom of where the world is, and where we are heading. In reality, the world has the tools, minds and people to build a healthy and sustainable planet. Paint a picture of tomorrow’s world that we can create with action, now. And maybe, just maybe, we can turn those dreams into reality.

At Purpose Union, we help organisations craft compelling and authentic climate narratives in an increasingly complex business and policy landscape. If you are a business or charity and need support developing your climate communications, get in touch with us here.